Bien Inc

General information

BIEN was founded and edited by the Norwegian Synod minister I.L.P. Dietrickson, a pastor in San Francisco, on April 14, 1882. The illustrated weekly BIEN (the BEE) was a uniquely journalistic contribution to the local Norwegian community and beyond. Claiming to publish “the intelligent Scandinavians on the West Coast”, it initially had sixteen pages, four to six of which were devoted to pictures, plus features, short stories, and about two pages to advertising. Its size decreased greatly over the years. In 1890 in became under Danish management, and the following year it was revived as a regular weekly news organ. The Danish American typographer and historian Sophus Hartwick began as a co-owner but after a few years assumed full ownership; he secured BIEN’s prosperity and gave the Danes of California their own voice. Norwegian Newspapers in America: Connecting Norway and the New Land by Odd Sverre Lovoll.

BIEN Since 1882 has now been published for more than 130 years as a sixteen pages semi-monthly news paper. Today, BIEN continues to inform and entertain its readers with news from Denmark and about the Danish communities in America.